Apple began accepting Apple Watch pre-orders at 12:01 AM Pacific today and disclosed further AppleCare+ pricing details for the wrist-worn device in the process. AppleCare+ for Apple Watch plans cost $49, $59 and $1,500 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively, while accidental damage coverage is subject to an additional service charge of $69 for Sport, $79 for Watch and $1,000 for Edition.
Apple is also offering AppleCare+ combo plans that cover both an Apple Watch and iPhone for a combined price of $149 (Apple Watch Sport and iPhone), $169 (Apple Watch and iPhone) and $1,600 (Apple Watch Edition and iPhone). These plans are likely offered for convenience purposes, rather than being a discount, as they cost one dollar more than purchasing AppleCare+ for Apple Watch and iPhone separately.
One potential benefit of purchasing an AppleCare+ combo plan for Apple Watch and iPhone is that Apple appears to be covering undamaged iPhones that are up to six months old. Apple's standalone AppleCare+ for iPhone plan requires that customers purchase the warranty plan within 60 days of buying an iPhone. You are still required to add an iPhone to the AppleCare+ combo plan within 60 days of buying the coverage.
AppleCare+ extends an Apple Watch's warranty coverage to two years from the date of purchase for the Sport and Watch, and three years for Edition, and provides accidental damage coverage for up to two incidents. Without AppleCare+, purchases of the Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch will be covered by a limited one-year warranty for hardware repairs and 90 days of complimentary support.
Saturday April 11, 2026 9:14 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
CarPlay Ultra...
As we wait for WWDC to kick off next Monday, Apple today announced the winners of its annual Apple Design Awards, recognizing apps and games for their innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement.
The 2025 Apple Design Award winners are listed below, with one app and one game selected per category:
Delight and Fun - CapWords (App) and Balatro (Game)
Innovation - Play (App) and PBJ -...
Saturday April 11, 2026 9:07 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the AirPods Max 2 received more attention, Apple also released a second pair of headphones last month: Nike Powerbeats Pro 2.
Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 are the same as the regular Powerbeats Pro 2, except they have a two-tone design consisting of black and Nike's signature Volt neon green-yellow color. The headphones were released on March 20 in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., and a ...
Thursday March 26, 2026 11:12 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
In addition to indicating that a new full-sized HomePod is in the works, and that the foldable iPhone will likely ship later than the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said he does not expect any major design changes for the next-generation Apple Watch models coming later this year.
Gurman revealed all of this information in a live Q&A call today on the Bloomberg...
Tuesday March 24, 2026 10:02 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released watchOS 26.4, the fourth major update to the watchOS 26 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 26.4 comes a month and a half after Apple released watchOS 26.3.
watchOS 26.4 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.4 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the...
Thursday March 19, 2026 3:10 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's current blood oxygen sensing implementation in the U.S. does not infringe on patents owned by Masimo and Apple will not face a revived import ban, a U.S. International Trade Commission judge said this week (via Reuters).
After Apple was found to have violated Masimo's patents related to blood oxygen sensing, the Apple Watch faced a U.S. import ban that caused Apple to briefly pause...
AppleCare Plus for Sport in US = $49. $49 = £33. Allowing for taxes, and rounding it up, it should be £39, but its £49.
AppleCare Plus for Collection in US - $69. $69 = £46. Using the same method, it should be £49, or at least £59. However, its the same, £69.
AppleCare Plus for Edition in US - $1500. $1500 = £1020. Using the same method, it should be £1099, or at least £1119. Regardless of that, AppleCare Plus is £1500.
I really think the prices should be lower in the UK.
UK prices include VAT,
US prices don't include sales tax normally as they vary from state to state.
AppleCare Plus for Sport in US = $49. $49 = £33. Allowing for taxes, and rounding it up, it should be £39, but its £49.
AppleCare Plus for Collection in US - $69. $69 = £46. Using the same method, it should be £49, or at least £59. However, its the same, £69.
AppleCare Plus for Edition in US - $1500. $1500 = £1020. Using the same method, it should be £1099, or at least £1119. Regardless of that, AppleCare Plus is £1500.
I really think the prices should be lower in the UK.